Type setting and distributing apparatus.



A. B." 1110K. TYPII SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9,1912. 1,053,365.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 4 1 .9 ME; 0 .3, 0 ii: I I i J on 00;) c3 43 A. 1;.DICK. TYPE SETTING AND D ISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEBJ), 1912.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS'i'SHEET '2.

BCUEEFGH l l J K LM- J mm o PQ RRSSTTUVWX Y z ATTORNEY UNITED STATESPATENT oEEIoE.

ALBERT IB. DICK,

OF LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO A. B. DICK COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TYPE SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

Specification or Letters Iatent.

Application filed February 9, 1912. Serial No. 676,504.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. DICK, a citizen of the United States,residing in Lake Forest, in the county of Lake and' State ofIllinois,-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypeSetting and Distributing Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to apparatus for setting and distributing typeand is directed particularly to the provision of apparatus of thischaracter for use in connection with printing machines to be operated byunskilled persons such, for-instance, as printing machines for o'fliceuse in printing letters and circulars in imitation of typewritten work.I

..,The object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanism for usein setting and distributing type which may be readily operated by anunskilled person, with which the type may be set up and distributedquickl and accurately and which may be manu actured at a low cost. A

- 'A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus with whichtype may be holder which is adapted to be locked in a chase and used .inprinting. In this way, a transfer of the type from the device in whichthey are set up to thechase or to :a holder adapted to be inserted i'nthe chase and a similar transfer when it .ishecessary to distribute thetype are avoided.

In accordance with the invention,"a composing-stick is provided adaptedto have a t pe-holder removably mounted therein. This type-holder isadapted to receive and support a single line of type and when. the typeare mounted upon the holder, the t pe and holder are type-high.-Therefore,.w en the holder has had alineof type set up'the'reon, it maybe inserted directly in a chase and used in printing. Similarly, indistributing the .type, the holder with its line of type may be insertedin the'fcom'posingstick and the type distributeddirectly fromthe-type-holder to the type-case. The composing-stick is speciallyformed so as to acilitate" the setting up of type in, and thedistributing of type from, the-type-holder. At one end it is providedwith tines between which is a slot alining with the slot .of the L its uper edge.

type-holder. Atits opposite end, the com- I posing-stiok is providedwith an ejector by which one type at a time may be allowed to pass fromthe stick into a suitable case. This ejector is preferably springactuated and it is. so formed that it engages and is operated by awallet the type-case when the composing-stick is brought intocooperat-ive relation with the type-case. The preferred embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation of thecomposingstick; Fig.2 is an elevation ofthe type- "holder; Fig; 3 is an elevation of the composing-stick withthe type-holder therein; Fig. tis a top view of the stick and holder;Fig. 5 is a transverse. section ofthe stick and holder on line 5-5 ofFig. 3; Fig. .6 is a horizontal section of the stick and holder on line66 of Fig. 3; Fig.7 is a detail sectional view on line '7-7 of Fig. 3;Fig. 8 is a view of the end of the stick and the edge of the type-casewith whichit coact's; Fig 9 is ajront view of the typecase; and i thetype-case having the composing-stick applied thereto. I

eferring to these drawings, the composing-stick has a side wall 1 and abottom wall 2, these two beinglformed from a strip of sheet metal. Atone end, the stick is formed to provide tines 3 parallel to each otherand forming between them a type receiving slot or channel. These twotines may be formed by portions of the same strip of sheet metal fromwhich the side and bottom walls 1 and 2 of the stick are formed. If so,a block I of metal is preferably inserted within the folded piece of themetal from which the arts '1, 2'and 3*are formed, this block havmg thetype receiving channel formed in Or the block 4 maybe secure to the endofthe strip of metal from which the walls 1 and 2 are formed and mayhave both the tines 3 and the ty receiving channel formed therein. In te opposite end of the stick is secured a block .of metal 5, this blockalso having a type receiving slot or channel 6 therein. This slot orchannel and also the channel 7 between the tines 3 are undercut so as toreceive and' Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

g. 10 is a transverse section of i port a type-holder. I Theconstruction of this holder is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. It consistsof a single piece of sheet metal folded along lines extending lengthwisethereof to provide two parallel side walls 8 and 9 and at the upperedges of these side walls inwardly directed flanges 10. Between theseflanges is a type receiving slot whereby the type-holder may supporttype in the manner shown in Fig. 5. These type have v groovesiii-opposite sides thereof into which tightly. The type will be sogripped and held except when the sidewalls 8 and 9 of the type-holderare spread in Order to cause disengagement of the type. To effectsuch'spreading of the side walls 8 and 9, a bar or cam 11 is provided.This cam extends lengthwise of the type-holder and at its ends issupported in bearings formed. by turning portions of the metal of theside Walls 8 and 9 inwardly, as shown at. 12. The cam-bar 11 is of across-sectional shape approximating an oblong with the corners rounded.When the bar 11 is in the position in whichit is shown in Fig.v 5, thesides 8 and 9 of the type-holder are allowed to move toward each otheruntil their flanges 10 grip the type 13 tightly. By turning the bar 11through 90, the sides s and 9 will be spread so as to enlarge the slotbetween the flanges 10. This will cause the type 13 to be held looselyin the slotin the typeholder sothat the type may be moved freely in thedirection of the length of the typeholder. In order to actuate the bar11, one end 14 thereof projecting beyond its'bear ing is squared so asto receive a key 15.

f In order to deta'chably mount the typeholder' within thecomposing-stick, the latter is provided with stationary retaining means16 at one end thereof and atthe other with a detachable latch. ,Theretainer 16 consists merely of a projection upon the block 4 of thecomposing-stick and near the bottom of the block as shown in Fig. 1. Theend of the type-holder is adapted tofit over the projection 16, the sidewalls 8 and 9 lying one on either side of this projection.

The latch 17 is located near the bottom of the stick asshown in Fig. 1and is carried -by a stud 18 passing through an opening in the block 5of the composing-stick. A

' spring 19 is coiled about the stud 18 within this opening-and actsnormally to force the latch 17 to the position in which it is shown inFigs. 1 and 6. On the end of the stud 18 is secured a disk 20 adapted tobe engaged by projection 21 on a lever 22 which ispivotally mounted at23 upon a hinge member 24 secured to the block 5 of the composing-stick.By pressing the handle or lever 22 the stud 18 and latch 17 may be movedagainst the tension of spring 19. To mount a type-holder within thestick, one end of the type-holder is inserted over the projection 16 andthen lever 22 is pressed to retract latch 17. The other end of thetype-holder is then moved into the composing-stick and lever-22 isreleased, whereupon the latch 17 will be moved. b spring 19 until itenters the adjacent en of the type-holder. The holder will thus be heldsecurely within the stick. To remove a ty holder from the stick, thereverse of t is operation is performed, the type-holder being taken outthrough the open side of the stick.

A shield 25 is pivotally mounted upon the side wall 1 of thecomposing-stick, as shown 1 at-26. This shield is adapted to move tosuch a. position that it'overlies the printing faces of type in a holdermounted in the stick. This shield when so positioned, therefore,protectsthe hand of the operator from contact with the printing facesof. the

type.

The cam-bar 11 may be operated while the type-holder is mounted withinthe composing-stick. During the operation of set-- ting up type, thetype receiving slot in the holder would be enlarged so that the type maymove-freely therein. After the line of type has been set up, the key 15is inserted through an opening in the block 5 shown at .27 in Fig. 7.The key will engage the end 14 of the bar 11 in the manner indicated inFig. 3, so that the bar may be turned and the holder thus made to gripthe t pe tightly before the type-holder with the lihe of typethereon, isremoved from the stick.

Pivotally mounted upon the block 5 of the composing-stick is an ejector28. This ejector has projections 29 and 30 on one end thereof. At itsopposite end it is rovided with a dependingarm 31. The e ector iscarried by a stud 32 which is received in bearings formed in the block5, as shown in Fig. 7. The stud 32 is cut-awayon one side. A leaf spring33 is secured to the block 5and bears at its end upon the stud 32 so asto normally hold the ejector in such a osition that the spring will lievfiat upon t e flattened side of the stud. When the ejector has beenmoved to this position by spring 33, further movement of the ejectorupon its pivot is precluded by a stud orpro'ection 34 which engages theside of the block'fi.

The projections 29 and 30 directly overlie the upper face of the block 5and extend in close proximity to the type receiving channel in theblock.

Upon the-end of block 5 is a pointed projection 35 whose function is toposition the composing-stick accurately with respect to a type-case ashereinafter described.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, the form of type-case with which thecomposing-stick above described is adapted to be used, is shown asconsisting of a plurality of'parallel inclined type receiving channels36. These channels are formed by bars 37 mounted at their lower endsupon a transverse bar 38, and at their upper ends upon a transverse bar39. At the lower end of each type receiving channel is a thin projection40 directly in line with the channel and serving to prevent type frommoving in a straight line out of the lower end of the channel. Directly.in front of each projection 40, the bars '36 are cut away slightly so asto form spaces 44 (Fig. 9) through which a single type may be raisedvertically. At their upper ends, the bars 37 are out upon an in-. clineas shown at 41. Directly underlying these ends 511 of the bars 37 is atransverse bar 42, the upper edge of which is provided with a pluralityof angular depressions, one

for each type receiving channel in the type case. These depressions areshown. at &3 in

Fig. 8. Another bar 45 is provided adja cent and parallel to the bars 39and 42.

With the apparatus constructed as above described, the operation ofsetting and distributing type isas follows: An empty typeholder isplaced in the-composing-stick in the manner heretbfore described and thebar 11 of that type-holder is turned so as to enlarge the type receivingslot. The operator then applies the tines 3 at one end of the stick atthe lower end of a type receiving channel 36 in the type-case, the tinesbeing inserted over the projection 40 at the lower end of the selectedchannel. The ends of the tines will thus be brought into engagement withthe grooves in the sides of the lowermost type in the channel. The endof the stick may then be raised carrying the lowermost type upwardlywith it through the vertical passage 44 at the lower end of the channel36. The type thus picked out will move along in the type receiving slotand into the type-holder. One type after another may be picked up inthis way, the various type having been selected by reference to theletters provided upon the frame of the type-case at the lower ends ofthe several channels. As the type move into the typeholder, they passunder the shield so that the movement of the type will not be obstructedby the operators hand and the operators hand will not be soiled bycontact with the printing faces of the type. After a line of type hasbeen set up, the key 15 is applied to the end of bar 11 through theopening 27 in the block 5 of the stick and bar 11 is turned to theposition in which it isshown in Fig. 5 so that the line of type in thetype-holder will be gripped and held upon the type-holder. Thetype-holder may then be removed from the composingstick by operatinglever 22 to withdraw latch 17 and may beinserted directly in a chase..An empty type-holder is positioned within the stick and the operationof setting the type is proceeded with. When using the apparatus fordistributing. type, a typeholder with a line of type thereon h isinserted withinthe composing-stick andthe walls of the holder are spreadso as to release the type by turning the cam-bar 11. The stick is thenraised so that the type move within the type receiving channel until theend type engages and is arrested by the projection 30 of the ejector 28.The end of the stick is then applied to the type-case in such the stickis in line with a channel of the type-case, that channel of thetype-case being selected which corresponds with the type at the end ofthe row in the stick. Position ing the composing-stick thus isfacilitated by the provision of the pointed end on the stick and thedepressions 43 on the typecase. A channel of the type-case is selectedby reference to the letters upon the case and then the end of the stickis moved down toward the upper end of this channel in the mannerindicated in Fig. 10. As this is done, the projection 35 enters theproper depression 43 and centers the stick accurately with respect tothe proper channel. As the stick is moved downwardly thus, the arm 31 ofthe ejector engages the upper edge of the bar 45 of the type-case andthe ejector is turned on its pivot by the bar 45 against the tension ofspring 33. This movement of the ejector is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8.As the ejector so moves, the projection 29 thereon releases thelowermost type in the stick but the projection 30 engages the next typeor engages between the two lowest type, so that only the lowermost typein thestick is allowed to pass out of the slot in the stick. After onetype has been distributed into its appropriate channel in the case inthis manher, the stick is raised and as this is done, the spring33 movesthe ejector 31 back to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4-, inwhich position the projection 29 on the ejector is again in engagementwith the lowermost type in the stick. The stick may then be moved alonginto coaction with the channel in the type-case corresponding with thetype in the stick which is then lowest and on loweringthe stick intocoaction with this channel 'the ejector will be again actuated as beforeto discharge another type. Setting up and distributing type in thismanner involves numerous-advantages. It will be a relation that the typereceiving channel in seen that the type are. set up directly in'atype-holder which, with the type thereon may be inserted directly in achase, the typeholder with the type thereon being typehigh. Thistype-holder is specially formed to facilitate gripping the line of typebefore the type holder is removed from the stick.

. Another advantage resulting from the use of this construction is thatgood impressions may be obtained when printing from type held by holderssuch as these here shown in cases where much inferior results would beobtained if type su platen of the mac me were employed. In some cases,the platens of printing machines, particularly printing machines foroflice use, donot prsentia perfectly level surface, due to warplng,accumulation of dirt or scarring.

"Notwithstanding any such irregularities, however, a line of typesupported'in the.

chase of a t pe-holder 1n the manner herein described wlll'all be heldaccurately in line so that good results can be obtained in the 'lease 'atype and permit the latter to fall by v gravity. This results in a quickmovement printing operation.

The form of ejector herein illustrated and described is found to be,very effective in practice. When the stick is manipulated indistributing type with a fair-degree of rapidity, as it would be by onewho had become accustomed to its use, the movement of the ejectoractually ejects the type from theslot in the stick; it does not merely-reof the type from the stick into its channel in the case and thisimpulse is given to the type merely as an incident to the lowering ofthe stick into coiiperative relation with its appropriate type channelin the case.

' Having described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desireto secure by' Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination of a composing stick having a type-receiving slot atone end thereof, a type-distributingslo-t at the other end in alinementwith the receiving slot, and a space between said slots for thereception ofa removable type-holder, and a typeholder having atype-receiving slot in the edge thereof, said holder being detachablymounted in said stick with its slot in aline ment with the slots of thestick, substantially as set forth. 7 v

2. .The combination of a composing stick having a-type-receiving slot atone end thereof, a type-distributing slot at the other end in alinementwith the receiving slot, and a space between said slots for thereception of a removable type-holder, a type-holder having atype-receiving slot in the edge thereof, said holder being detachablymounted in the stick with its slot in alinement with the slots of thestick, and means for'distributing type mounted on the stick adjacent tosaid distributing slot, substantiallyas set forth.

ported directly upon the having a type-receiving slot at one endthereof, a type-distributing slot at the other end in'alinement with thereceiving slot, and a space between said slots for the reception of aremovable type-holder, a type-holder located in said spaceand having atype-receiving slot in its edge and means on said stick for detachablyengaging the holder to hold it in position with its slot in alinementwith .theslots in said stick, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a composing stick having a type-receiving slot atone end thereof, a type-distributing slot at the other end and open onone side between said slots for the reception of a type-holder, aremovable type-holder in said stick having a type-re- 3 ceiving slot inits ed e and clamping devices on the stick adapts to engage the holder 1and hold it in position on the stick with its slot in alinement with theslots in the stick, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a composing stick having a type-receiving slot atone end thereof, and a type-distributing slot in the other end inalinement with the receiving slot, and

a space between said slots for the reception of a removable type-holdera type-holder having a type-receiving slot in the edge thereof, saidholder being detachably mounted in the stick with its slot in alinementwith the slots of the stick, and a shield mounted on said stick andadapted to overlie the printing faces of the type in said removableholder, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a type-holder having a type-receiving slot thereinand with the-type therein being type-high, a compos- -ing stick open atone portion thereof to receive the holder, means for clamping 'theholder on the stick, type-receiving means at one end of the stickincluding tines between which is a slot alining with the slot in theholder, type-distributing means at the other end of the stick includinga slot alining with the slot in the holder and a shield mounted on thestick'and overlying the printing faces of the type in the holder,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a composing stick having'a type-receiving slotatone end thereof, a type-distributing slot at the other end inalinement with the receiving slot, and a space between said slots forthe reception of a removable type-holder, a type-holder located in saidspace and having a type- 8. The combination of a composing stick 3. Thecombination of a composingstick having a type-receiving slot at one endthereof, a type-distributing slot at theother end in alinement with the.receiving slot and a space between saidslots for the reception of aremovable type-holder, a type-holder having a type-receiving slot in itsedge, said holder being detachably mounted in said stick with its slotin alinement with the slots of the stick, and meansfor causing theholder, while in the stick, to grip-the type in the slot therein,substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a type-holder having a type-receiving slot thereinand with the type therein being type-high, a composing stick open at oneportion thereof to receive the holder, means for clamping the holder onthe stick, type-receiving means at one end of the stick including tinesbetween which is a slot alining with the slot in the holder,type-distributing means at the other end of the stick including a slot.alining with the slot in the holder, and means for causing the holder,while in the stick, to grip t e type in the slot thegein, substantiallyas set forth.

10. The combination of a composing stick having a typereceiving slot atone end thereof, a type-distributing slot at the other end in alinementwith the receiving slot, and a space between said slots for thereception of a removable type-holder, a typeholder having atype-receivin .slot in its edge, said holderbein detacha ly mounted insaid stick with its s 0t in alinement with the slots of the stick, and apointed projection at the end of the stick adjacent to thetype-distributing slot for positioning said end of the stick withrespect to a; type-receiving member, substantially as set forth.

11. A composing stick having a slot therein open at its end throughwhich the type pass side by side" and an ejector pivotally mounted uponthe stick on an axis parallel to the length of the type in said slot.

and coacting with the type in the slot, said ejector being movable uponits pivot to permit one type to pass throughthe slot at a time,substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a composing stickhaving a type-distributing slotat one end thereof and a space adjacent to said slot for the receptionof a removable type-holder, a type-holder having a type-receiving slotin its edge, said holder being detachably mounted in the stick with itsslot in aline- 'ment with the slot of the stick, and an cent to thetype-distributing slot therein, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a composing stick having a type-receiving slot atone end thereof, a type-distributing slotat the other end in alinementwith the receiving slot, and a s ace between said slots for thereception of a removable type-holder, a type holder having atype-receiving slotin the edgethereof, said holder being detach-ablymounted in the stick with its slot in alinement with the slots of thestick, an ejector pivotally mounted upon the stick adjacent to thetype-distributing slot thereof, a spring for actuating the ejector inone direction and a projection on the ejector adapted to be engaged tooperate the ejector in the other direction, substantially as .set forth.i

14. The combination of a composing stick having a type-holding slottherein open at its end and an ejector pivotally mounted on the stickand coacting with the type in said slot, said ejector having an exposedportion adapted to engage a type-receiving member when the stick ismoved toward the member and thus cause operation of the ejector to ejecta type into said member, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination of a composin stick having a type -'receivingchannel t erein open at its end, a type-case having a plurality ofparallel type-receiving channels therein open at one end, and a movableejector mounted on the stick, said ejector .being adapted to engage thetype-case and to be operated thereby to permit one type to pass throughthe channel in the stick, substantially as set'forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 5th day of February, 1912.

.ALBERT B. DICK.

Witnesses:

I. MGINTOSH, J. F. GoLLINs.

being adapted to engage the type-case and a composing stick

